- Formula 1 - Season 2008 -

[beglar_begi]

you have got to be crapping me! The best performance he has ever seen?! I knew jackie stewart was getting on in years but bloody hell the mans medications must really be kicking in now... I told you they would do this... now even if he doesnt win the championship it does not matter because the boy done good as far as the toffee nosed brigade is concerned. I wonder sometimes as to what drivers like hakkinen and schumacher make of this hype...

[UncleKracker]

Hamilton Has Joined The Greats
Other than 'Senna-like', there isn't a superlative in existence that adequately describes the mastery of Hamilton's performance

Hamilton has joined the greats after a season and half in F1!! Lets hope Jackie has his own "F1-Greats" and not the established F1 greats we tend to refer to. Being " Senna-like" hmmm... Most of the memorable performances in the wet of the late great Ayrton Senna came in a car which would be something like the Williams, or maybe the Renault of this year. Renault would be an exaggeration but something between the Renault and Williams I`d say.

I don`t think either Mika or Michael would say much about it in public. Mika didn't say much and Michael was very politically correct. The two drivers who called a spade a spade in recent history were Juan Pablo Montoya and Jacques Villeneuve. I wonder what they would make of it.

[beglar_begi]

A friend of mine was telling me that Jacques actually told an interviewer in some french magazine to ask him about hamilton's ability once he won the championship... he said every driver on the F1 track has the potential for the championship as far as he was concerned... I think it was the french vogue or something (dont ask me what he was doing talking to them)
Montoya's the man... after winning rookie of the year last year he went on to insult the americans telling them their form of racing wasn' exactly very stressful... I believe he equated it toa nice holiday for himself while he was away from F1... I am sure his team made him sing a different tune in following press conferences... but i do miss these straight shooters... I think with coulthard gone the only guy left who actually speaks up is alonso...
the hamilton hype has crossed embarassing and entered into the cringeworhty zone...

[genius83]

@UK and beglar
they used to do this and we know that as for last race I think I am a bit late to give my reactions but looks like some one from mclaren and honda is certainly visiting this thread and they are taking notice of what we are saying well really good performance by both rubens and heiki but they really needs some luck and they get that at the right time. As for the whole race I can't understand why every one not go for the full wet from the start the conditions are trencherous.
what are the weather predictios for the hockenheim GP.

[s90]

Lewis Hamilton races Lear jet

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7505652.stm

[UncleKracker]

@beglar_begi
Expect anything from Jacques.
Whats your gut feeling fore this weekend , and i hope you`d leave your left nut out of it this time.

@genius83
It wasn't wet enough for full wets at the start. A dry line appeared after 9-10 laps. Wasn't worth the gamble for the front runners to go for full wets at any time during the race.

[UncleKracker]

McLaren decide against racing anvil wing

McLaren have decided against introducing their shark fin engine cover at the German Grand Prix, autosport.com has learned, despite some encouraging results in last week's Hockenheim test.

The Woking-based team experimented with the new cover as part of their build-up to this weekend's race, with Lewis Hamilton topping the times as he used it alongside other aerodynamic and mechanical developments.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69149

[UncleKracker]

Kubica: BMW are second on merit

Robert Kubica says BMW Sauber fully deserve their place in the world championship battle this year - and is confident the team will keep up the development they need for the title challenge.

Although the F1.08 does not appear to have the out-and-out pace of rivals Ferrari and McLaren, the team's consistency has helped Kubica keep in touch with the championship leaders.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69200

[UncleKracker]

Vettel confirmed at Red Bull for 2009

Sebastian Vettel will join Mark Webber at Red Bull Racing next year, the Milton Keynes-based team confirmed at Hockenheim on Thursday.

The German had been widely tipped for several months to make the step up from Red Bull's junior Scuderia Toro Rosso team after several impressive performances this year, even though formal discussions only started recently.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69187

Vettel: Red Bull deal a dream come true

Sebastian Vettel says racing for the Red Bull Racing team in 2009 will be another dream come true.

Red Bull announced on Thursday the 21-year-old German will replace David Coulthard when the Scot retires at the end of this season.

Vettel, who currently drives for Red Bull's sister team Toro Rosso, admitted he was very happy to stay at the Red Bull family.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69188

[UncleKracker]

Abu Dhabi planning circuit revamp

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix chief Philippe Gurdjian is considering major changes to the design of the country's new Formula One venue as preparations continue for next year's inaugural event.

Gurdjian recently relinquished the role he had played in developing Paul Ricard so he could focus on overseeing the new Yas Marina Circuit, which is set to host the season finale next season.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69166

[UncleKracker]

Thursday's press conference - Germany

Participating: Timo Glock (Toyota), Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber), Nico Rosberg (Williams), Adrian Sutil (Force India) and Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso).

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69191

[beglar_begi]

@UK

BMW and Kubica for this race for the points but overall I think its gonna be interesting because we can't really read much into car performances from the brit GP... Kimi has got to step on it here and I actually see him performing at the hokster circuit I'm talking podium and possibly numero uno... massa I dont expect much rom in the race he may perform in the qualifying but when it comes o the race I dont see him keeping up with kimi given that kimi awakes from his stupor...

but yeah I'm backing Kubica and BMW for the fantasy F1 thing mostly because I'm out of better options... whats your pick?

[UncleKracker]

@ beglar_begi

Hmmm.....These i hope are your picks without the influential left nut having a say in the matter.
I cant make up my mind because of the weather situation. I lost vital points at Silverstone because of rain and the forecast for this weekend is for wet qualifying and might even have brief showers during the race. If the forecast was for a wet race I would have gambled on, Alonso:-) That not being the case I have to go with Mclaren and Hamilton. Although the gap between Ferrari and Mclaren in free practice two is misleading i think. No way is the Mclaren 0.7 quicker than a Ferrari, but like you i dont have many choices so Ill go with Mclaren.

P: S hopping for a double DNF for Mclaren even if it costs me in the Fantasy F1 League.

[UncleKracker]

Brawn: Honda to retain both drivers

Honda Racing boss Ross Brawn has revealed that the team will retain both Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello as its drivers for next season.

The experienced pair's contracts with the Japanese-owned squad expire at the end of the current campaign, and while Button has been expected for some time to sign on for 2009, there have been doubts about 37-year-old Rubens Barrichello’s future, with Fernando Alonso mooted as a possible high-profile replacement.

But although a contract extension has yet to be confirmed with either Button or Barrichello, Brawn says the team plans to keep an unchanged driver line-up for the fourth consecutive season.

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=43373

[beglar_begi]

Hamilton grabs pole right at the death eh? It should be another good start to the race as kovalainen is surely going to try and cut off massa. I hope massa passes hamilton right from the get go.
Lets see if iceman can pull off something special here...

[UncleKracker]

I have quite a few chosen words for the "iceman" but i`ll save em for after the race. He for sure has a lot more fuel on-board than the cars in front, but my long list of complaints against him start with him not having worked hard enough with the team to overcome his qualifying problems. He has often compromised his starting position because of that. Starting 6th here on the dirty side in what is a short sprint to the first corner could be a recipe for disaster.

[UncleKracker]

Brawn: No decision on 2009 line-up yet

Ross Brawn has denied Honda Racing are certain to retain both Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello for the 2009 season.

The Briton told the official Formula One website on Friday that they would keep both drivers for another year, leading to the reports that the duo had already signed new contracts.

But on Saturday Brawn backtracked from his comments and made it clear that Honda have not made any decision about their line-up yet.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69303

[UncleKracker]

Congratulations to every Mclaren and Hamilton fan. A victory well deserved.

With due respect to the two Ferrari drivers, the team and its legions of fans its time they either kill both their drivers or hope something happens to them so the team can get rid of them both. Todays performance of both drivers in the race, and Kimis performance yesterday in qualifying and indeed all through this year does not merit them a place in a front line team anymore.
2010, when Alonso moves to Ferrari, cant come quick enough! Yes, he had a troubled race today but hed be the first driver id put in that car, and if possible at all Id try and get Kubica even if i have to break bank for it. Anyone of those two would do.
There is no justification what so ever for Massa to lose the race in a manner that he did nor for Kimi`s qualifying troubles of this season and last years.

[beglar_begi]

@all

ditto to what UK said...

[nightsurfer]

Relax guys, it is a disappointing result. I am furious as well, but I still have faith in Raikkonen and Massa's capabilties. There is still a lot more to come. So keep your scarlet flags high!